New South Wales 251 (Henriques 95, Rocchiccioli 4-101) and 182 for six (Hughes 59, Nikitaras 56) beat Western Australia 256 (Whiteman 107, Philippe 52*, Inexperienced 3-33, Hen 3-37) and 176 (Bancroft 36, Inexperienced 6-83, Hatcher 2-26, Tremain 2-28) by 4 wickets
Chasing 182 for victory, the Blues have been cruising at 117 for 1 earlier than struggling a collapse of 5 for 36 to put the sport on a knife’s edge. Fearless knocks from Oliver Davies (24 not out off 23 balls) and Inexperienced (16no off 11) received the guests over the road simply after lunch on day 4, handing them their first Shield victory on the WACA Floor since 2012.
NSW’s second success on the trot has lifted them to inside a win of second spot, and they’re additionally now neck-and-neck with defending champions WA.
Inexperienced was named participant of the match after returning figures of three for 33 and 6 for 83 to go along with his useful knocks within the low-scoring affair.
“I feel these circumstances and this wicket sort of fits him. He does depend on bounce so much,” Henriques stated. “Within the second innings I assumed he discovered his size fantastically. I felt like he dominated that complete innings.”
However Charlie Stobo’s dismissal of Nikitaras opened the door for WA as NSW’s center order crumbled.
Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli snared Hughes and Matthew Gilkes, whereas Henriques was left in disbelief when he was given out caught behind down leg aspect for 5. Replays prompt Henriques did not get any bat to the Joel Paris supply.
NSW endured one other piece of misfortune simply earlier than lunch when Jack Edwards shouldered arms to Paris and was given out lbw, regardless of the ball showing to be too excessive. That left them needing one other 29 runs for victory, however Davies and Inexperienced got here out swinging after the break to rapidly put the competition to mattress.
“An enormous a part of what we tried to do at the moment was to grasp in there,” Paris stated. “I am certain we gave NSW a little bit of a scare within the change room. I am actually happy with the hassle, however it’s a disappointing end result.”
WA are sweating on the health of paceman Matt Kelly, who tore a pectoral muscle in the course of the match. It comes on the again of a irritating run of soppy tissue accidents for the 29-year-old.
“He is a bit sore for the time being,” Paris stated. “He is had a tough 10, 12 months after being so sturdy for such a very long time. We’ll get round him as finest as we will.”
